In which I might want to take a picture
Our electronics have been doing wonky things lately--without Mercury even being retrograde! We've replaced some items, like one of the televisions, and batteries in almost everything else. (And why, I am forced to wonder, does Best Buy happily sell you a laptop but not a replacement battery, hmmmmm?) In any event, with all the electronics demanding attention and a lot of travel coming up, we've decided to poke around and look at new cameras. I don't want anything so expensive that I will die a thousand deaths if anything happens to it, so I'm wondering what you own that you love that is $300 or less. Oh, and it needs to be pretty user-friendly, because you know me--I still think there's a tiny dude inside the camera sketching a picture. Sony? Nikon? Canon? Do tell....
Labels: general musing
posted by deanna at
6:32 AM
19 Comments:
Canon Powershot A2000IS. A great camera that cost me 150 1 year ago, and still took these pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/psyllogism/200902Maui#5307609996023431490
Nikon Coolpix, user friendly, big screen, and under $200. I like mine and even bought one for my sister.
Hmmmm. I've got a little generic hand held canon. User friendly (and adventurer friendly). It was under $300 AUS. Got some basic shots on my blog that I took with it too :)
www.findingfemme.blogspot.com
I wanted something small, flat, with a large view screen. I learned from my previous camera that disposable batteries were NOT a good nor convenient thing. My new camera had to have one of those slender long-life batteries.
I found a little $120 Kodak pocket camera - sorry I don't remember the model. I carry it in my purse all of the time and when I don't want to carry a purse it fits perfectly in my pocket. I bought a spare battery that allows me to keep a charged battery when traveling. Perfect for me!
The pictures are fabulous. It even has a setting for anti-jiggle so no blurry shots! Amazing.
The $100-$160 Nikons/Olympus/Sony cameras are perfect for anyone just wanting to take pics. The images are beautiful and the quality far surpases the needs ofthe average consumer. Get image stabilization if you decide on a really thin camera! Otherwise, half your pics will be blurry......yes, I have experience with this..: )
I have a FujiFilm FinePix F480 model
* 8.2 megapixels
* Wide zoom 4x
* Video capabilities w/sound
* Red-eye elimination, portrait, close-up, and all kinds of bells & whistles I haven't even cracked the surface of!
I got it at WalMart (I know, not the store Brisbane would be caught dead in) for about $130.00 and it works like a charm.
We LOVE our Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 for many reasons:
1. 12x optical zoom and wide angle are PERFECT for kids sporting events (when you are trying to get a picture of your swimmer for 50 yards away and want to know it is).
2. Hi-def video clips. Really nice!
3. Rechargeable battery that lasts very long (like 400 picture and dozens of clips).
4. Wonderful pictures, bright colors and incredible detail (see here http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B001QFZMCO/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_2?ie=UTF8&index=2).
5. Easy to use (in both video and picture modes)
6. Easy to download (just insert sd memory card into computer).
7. Very portable, fits in most pockets.
8. Lovely, large, bright 3 inch view screen.
We bought it on Amazon for about $300 (plus abut $20 for an 8GB a memory card).
Georgia
I love my Canon powershot. It's a few years old now but I took it to Singapore and Spain and never had any trouble with it. And I've got some great pictures to show from some very memorable trips.
I have a Canon PowerShot SD790 IS. 10.0 megapixels and takes fabulous photos. I bought it at Costco a year ago for about $150 and that included the memory card that hold a gazillion pictures. I love this camera.
I adore my Canon Powershot SX200 IS. It's an amazing zoom (12x) and exceptional quality (12.1 mega pixels). I just came back from Denmark, and comparing the photos I took there with the other photos of places I've been made me realize how important it is to have something with great zoom and clarity.
Plus, all of the bonus features are fantastic.
I bought a Nikon Coolpix last summer, and I regret it. The battery drains after a few shots, and you're supposed to go into the menu and select which type of battery you're using. That's ridiculous. Now I'm looking for a new Canon Powershot, or a Sony, which has always taken great photos for my sister-in-law.
I have a Samsung SL201. Got it for $99 at Target. It's not the woo-woo top of the line, but it takes nice pictures when I want it to and uploads to my computer SO easily!! Highly recommended.
I am not recommending a brand - just some questions to ask: What is the farthest distance recommended for flash photography? What is the shutter speed, i.e., is there a lag between pressing the button and the picture being actually taken? Is there red-eye reduction? Image stabilization? Is there a viewfinder as well as a view screen? Video with sound? Fast action sequence of shots and how many?
Most importantly, read the reviews on any camera you are considering.
To karenmc -- the batteries that come with the Nikon Coolpix are crap. Mine only lasted about 10 shots. Use Energizer Ultimate Lithium - I've probably taken over 300 shots and I'm only on my second set of batteries.
Check it out - a timely NYT article on just this subject that I saw on Yahoo Finance today:
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108771/best-cameras-for-%24300-or-less?mod=family-home
Well, my dad went and bought some FujiFilm Finepix A205 digital cameras for each of us from Wal-Mart. They were $100 each. Pretty cheap and they are very easy to use and very good cameras.
Love love my little Sony Cybershot. Costs me $150 bucks, has a nice sized viewer screen, & very user friendly. Adjustable size for pictures lets you print up to 11x17.
I really love my Samsung BL 1050. 10.2 megapixel, 5x zoom (which surprisingly comes in very handy), was under $100 when I bought it. The picture quality is outstanding. For the nerd in me, the included carrying case can go on my belt so I don't have to carry it around in my hands (it also comes with a memory card as well). It's not a super-thin camera, but I carry it in my purse everyday with no problems. I made sure to get the batteries made for digital products (can't remember if they were Energizer or Duracell) and that one set of batteries lasted nearly 1000 photos through Scandinavia, with me constantly changing my mind about whether or not to take the shot,which can drain regular batteries quickly. So I would say, regardless of the brand make sure you get good batteries.
Thanks, everybody--much appreciated!
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